Bigleaf Hydrangea 'Libelle': Delicate White Lacecap with Many Aliases

Bigleaf Hydrangea 'Libelle': The Dragonfly Lacecap

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Libelle' (also known as 'Lybelle', 'Teller White', 'Dragon Fly', and 'Snow') is a classic white lacecap cultivar whose many names reflect its widespread cultivation and the poetic appeal of its airy blossoms. "Libelle" is German for dragonfly—an apt description for the delicate, wing-like sterile florets that hover above the central fertile flowers.

Ethereal White Blooms

The lacecap inflorescences are broad and flat, 5–7 inches across. The central fertile flowers are small, numerous, and typically pale blue to pink (pH dependent), forming a low dome. The showy sterile florets are large, pure white, and distinctly cupped or "winged," held on slender pedicels that allow them to flutter in the breeze—hence the dragonfly association. The effect is light, airy, and graceful.

The shrub grows 4–5 feet tall and wide with an open, relaxed habit and healthy green foliage.

Reliable Classic

This cultivar has been a garden staple for decades, valued for its pure white sterile florets (which do not change with soil pH) and its graceful habit. Standard culture: morning sun or dappled shade, moist rich soil, USDA zones 6–9. Blooms on old wood. The many synonyms attest to its popularity across Europe and North America.

Taxonomic Profile

• Family: Hydrangeaceae
• Genus: Hydrangea
• Species: macrophylla
• Cultivar: 'Libelle' (syn. 'Lybelle', 'Teller White', 'Dragon Fly', 'Snow')

Moonlight Garden Star

The white, fluttering florets of 'Libelle' glow luminously in evening light, making it a premier choice for moon gardens and twilight borders. Pair with white-flowering perennials (astilbe, phlox), silver foliage (artemisia, lamb's ear), and dark green backgrounds for maximum effect. A timeless cultivar with poetic charm.